October 22, 2010

I’m debating buying a DID solely for this blog. Hate mail is fun.. but with hate voicemail there can be no mistake about tone. I’m not worried about threats; the FBI can handle those nicely.

Maybe I should only offer a SIP URI? No cost incurred, but then only the savvy would call?

I have been discussing some inventive uses for IVR with an online friend. He started it, I improved it and so began an arms race of IVR hackery. More on that soon.. or once the ITSP works out the kinks

I’ll be sure to post when I find a provider on the inum list that provides an inum and inbound use without a fee.. until then it’s a bait n switch scam

callcentric inum is free when you don’t live in the USA for e911 recovery fee *nod* *wink*. If you do live in the USA it will cost $5. callcentric, however, does really offer free SIP URI calls. Callcentric provides its own set of PSTN gateway numbers for fee-calling [not free] or for calling other SIP/iNum callcentric clients. There were too many characters needed in a dialstring for my phone but it is likely possible with the new $50/mo data penalty “smart” phones.

I don’t expect free service arbitrarily; I do however expect integrity. Stand by your offer.

updated: corrections applied. Callcentric is free when you don’t “live” in the USA 😉 FonSwitch is always free inum no crazy e911 recovery fee AND they allow you to choose an iNum to your liking from a block of iNums.

Actually free iNum SIP providers

callcentric

free iNum

no SIP SIMPLE presence

must emulate presence with jabber [XMPP] (softphones)

free voicemail

server side filtering [limited]

web UA registration status

no SIP trace

fonswitch

free iNum

SIP SIMPLE presence

free voicemail

no server side filtering

web UA registration status

no SIP trace

voxalot basic

free iNum (provider iNum prefix + usernumber)

unknown SIP SIMPLE presence

unknown voicemail freeness

unknown server side filtering

web UA registration status

no SIP trace

I earnestly appreciate being corrected; I own- and apologize for my errors. One gains nothing by willful ignorance.

I’m always on the look out for ways for friends’ families money to keep in touch (internationally) inexpensively. For those who have free incoming mobile calls (UK/EU?)I would hope incoming SIP calls would be similarly free; iNum fits the bill nicely as the dialing party [ultimately] need not fuss with PSTN gateways or codes. Rather than suggesting they invest in an excellent headset I suggest they opt for an ATA for “normal” phones. ITSP and similar are kind enough to provide the free SIP calls, peering aside, it’s a “do a good turn daily” opportunity. I have been recommending the SPA2102 with latest Cisco firmware for home users behind cheap ISP CPE (with joyously crippleware NAT) other suggestions will be warmly received. Verizon FIOS westell gateways are the worst for ATA behind NAT with ‘SIP ALG’ that is nearly impossible to disable depending on firmware- and hardware versions. It seems walled garden is not far enough; FIOS gateways seem hell bent on raping SIP.

I spent a few hours gaming the number system after the google acquisition of GrandWhatsit was obviously branded and await the opportunity to exercise my RIGHTS as a consumer to take my awesome numbers to a provider I can trust [not to datamine my calls].

Google does not qualify as an exception in ANY cases outlined by the FCC LNP rules in FCC 07-188 or FCC 09-41

§ 52.34 Obligations regarding local number porting to and from interconnected VoIP providers.
(a) An interconnected VoIP provider must facilitate an end-user customer’s valid number portability request, as it is defined in this subpart, either to or from a telecommunications carrier or another interconnected VoIP provider. “Facilitate” is defined as the interconnected VoIP providers’ affirmative legal obligation to take all steps necessary to initiate or allow a port-in or port-out itself or through the telecommunications carriers, if any, that it relies on to obtain numbering resources, subject to a valid port request, without unreasonable delay or unreasonable procedures that have the effect of delaying or denying porting of the NANP-based telephone number.

(b) An interconnected VoIP provider may not enter into any agreement that would prohibit an end-user customer from porting between interconnected VoIP providers, or to or from a telecommunications
carrier.

Seems like google TOS is a teeny bit invalid regarding LNP. Please do correct if I am wrong.

We will not use any of your content for any purpose except to provide you with the Service

Yeah, right. “”provide service” — please refer to myriad other google TOS to unvaguify claim. gmail is powered by text datamining alledgedly on the fly. voice service is a wee bit more expensive than email, but no datamining? Would you like to buy a voice bridge? oh, wait, that’s “free” too.

make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network [Until verizon pushes a PRL that makes using your handset in your house nearly impossible.. thankfully: NAM2]

me: how can I opt out of your $30/mo upgrade penalty for services I shall NEVER use?verizon: the $30/mo fee is for your convenience
me: how is paying your $30/mo upgrade penalty for something I shall NEVER use convenient for ME?verizon: if you didn’t have the unlimited data plan you would have to pay fees per megabyte that would quickly become excessive
me: great how do I get that?verzion: get what?
me: the option to be billed excessively per megabyte?verizon: now we have the unlimited data plan for thirty dollars a month; otherwise you would have to pay for megabyte usage
me: alright how do I pay for megabyte usage?verizon: you won’t have to with our convenient unlimited data package
me: I don’t want to pay your thirty dollars a month upgrade penalty for something I won’t EVER be using. I would rather pay for megabyte usage… especially as I’ll be using zero megabytes every month. How much will it cost to use ZERO megabytes of data a month?verizon: if you weren’t using data you would still have the protection of the $30/mo unlimited data plan[actual verizon “reasoning”]verizon: in case someone else picked up your phone and connected to the internet…..